Dunya

In Islam, dunyā (Arabic: دُنْيا‎) refers to the temporal world and its earthly concerns and possessions, as opposed to the hereafter (ʾākhirah). In the Qur'an, dunyā and ākhira are sometimes used dichotomously, other times complementarily. Islam does not a priori dismiss the world as "evil".

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Marja' . Dunya

Who is currently the most followed Marja in the world?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 5 years ago

Majority of the Shia Muslims today follow in Taqleed, Ayatullah al-Udhma Sayyed Ali al-Husaini al- Sistani. This is because of the fact that majority of Shia scholars in the Hawza of Najaf Ashraf, Qum, Mashhad and other places, believe that Ayatullah Sistani is the most knowledgeable among Shia high caliber scholars (Mujtahids). No doubt, there are other Maraaji' in Iran and Iraq who have lot of followers in Taqleed, but Ayatullah Sistani is the most followed Marja' in this time. May Allah protect him and prolong his life, and all the Maraaji'.

Wassalam.

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God (Allah) . Dunya

Who asked Allah to bring us here, in this world, in the first place?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 5 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Allah willed to bring us to this world and it was not at the request of anyone.

May you always be successful

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God (Allah) . Dunya

Did Allah assign any of His creatures to make this world or did He directly create it Himself?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. God is the Creator of all creation, but as it pertains to the material realm, He works through means as He is exalted above matter.

May you always be successful

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Family . God (Allah) . Dunya

On what basis does Allah decide that some people be born in a Muslim or non-Muslim family? Did we earn what we are now in another world before this one?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The ultimate wisdom behind God's actions is unknown and simply being born into a non-Muslim family does not mean that a person is unduly disadvantaged, because God judgement of people is not linear. His Justice will prevail and be accorded to people according to their situations and what He has blessed them with. He does what is in the best interest of His servants and it is His creation that is unjust to their loving all-Merciful Creator. There are some traditions to indicate that there was a level of test prior to our creation in this world and that determined certain variables in this world. But ultimately the capacity of each creature is known by God, so even if these traditions are not accepted, the issue of who is born into what family, at what time, and all the other innumerable factors surrounding an individual's existence all come back to the Knowledge and Wisdom of God.

May you always be successful.

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God (Allah) . Dunya

As God has sent me in this world without asking my permission why do I have to suffer in it?

God has showered on us His great bounties and great Mercy by creating us to make us exist after we were not existing. This great bounty needs to be thanked all the times. You can see the great value of this bounty of creation when any danger on life is expected or feared. We must appreciate and be grateful to God who created and gifted us with the life and guided us to the right way to live a happy life. Our sufferings are results of our own deeds away from the teachings of God, or because of the deviation of others from the way of God. If we are victims of injustice from others, God will compensate us with His great Mercy either in this life or hereafter.

Wassalam.

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God (Allah) . Qur'an . Dunya

Allah has full authority over us and could make us do what He wants as it says in the Quran that He guides whoever He wills. What then is the meaning of God wanting us to be tested in this world?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. While it is true that God's power and authority are pervasive and encompassing He has endowed humans with meaningful free will and is Just in rewarding and punishing them for their actions based on their ability to choose. It is God's Will that humans have free will and can choose accordingly and are therefore tested in this world.

May you always be successful.

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God (Allah) . Dunya

I tend to lose sight of God in the moments when I focus on worldly matters. How do I train myself to be in the state of presence of God at all times?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answered 5 years ago

as salam alaikum

our relationship with Allah should be based on worship and servitude. Concentration may be a part of worship but it is not its finality because to focus on ideas and meanings, as lofty as they may be, can be in some cases a form of distraction from the One to Whom our worship is directed. There is a fundamental element in worship distinguished from different forms of exercises and concentration. Mere concentration may improve our capability of meditation on an object but may not be classified as real worship. That is why sometimes worship has been compared to a lover admiring his loved one without focusing on what he is saying to him.

If our intention is to satisfy Allah, we won't have any ambition to reach a particular state or stage and that is when the heart get ready to receive more favors and grace from his Lord. In other words, a pure intention, attitude and lifestyle in the light of the teachings of Islam are often more effective than alienating yourself trying to grasp something behind single moments through basic concentration.

With prayers for your success.

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Hereafter . Dunya

Is it true that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was critical of both those who abandon the Hereafter for this world and also those who abandon this world for the Hereafter? Does it mean we should be moderate and try to enjoy both the worlds?

Yes it is true that the Holy Prophet (SAWA) never encourages anyone to
abandon the Hereafter for this world nor this world for the Hereafter.
In the narrations one of the pious companions Usman ibn Madh’oon عثمان بن مظعون who was one of the earliest Muslims (13th or 14th) and who suffered a lot
from the enemies of the Muslims in Makkah and who had migrated to
Abyssinia twice, first with the Muslims of Madinah were who led by him
and the second time he migrated to Abyssinia with a group of Muslims
led by Ja’far ibn Abi Talib.

Usman ibn Madh’oon participated in the Muslim army in the battle of
Badr. He was spending his days in fasting and the nights in
worshipping. He sought permission from the Holy Prophet (SAWA) to
abandon this world and remain in worshipping Allah (SWT) only. The
Holy Prophet (SAWA) did not allow this and told him : “No, I was not
sent to abandon this world for the Hereafter nor to abandon the
Hereafter for sake of this world”. The Hadeeth says : “Do for your
worldly life as if you will remain in the world forever and do for
your Hereafter as if you are leaving this world tomorrow. (Mustadrak
al-Wasaa’il vol. 13 pg. 58 and Bihar al-Anwar vol. 44 pg. 139). Even
in the Holy Qu’ran in Surah al-Qasas verse 77, Allah (SWT) says :
“Seek with what Allah (SWT) has bestowed on you the Hereafter and
don’t forget your lawful portion from this world”.

Wassalam.

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Life . Punishment . Dunya

What is the Islamic response for those who wish they were not born into this existence, who wish they were not part of the world in this life or the next and want neither the punishment nor the reward?

Every human being who has basic intellectual faculty believes that his
existence in this life is the most valuable. That is why you find
that everyone including small children try to avoid any danger on
life and they do whatever they can to save this life. Those who have
mental or psychological problems feel sometimes that they wish they
were not born. This feeling goes against the basic instinctive
knowledge of all human beings and cannot be taken as normal feeling
but it needs to be dealt with as a mental and psychological problem.
Hence it needs to be treated through specialist health experts and
other ways of treatment. No doubt the best treatment for mental and
psychological conditions is remembering Allah (SWT). Remembering Allah
(SWT) is the source of peace of mind and tranquility.

Even those whose claim that they wish that they were not born are not
sure about their feelings and that is why you find them if they face
any danger then they try to avoid it and save their lives. So their
feeling itself is not firm.

Islam teaches us to appreciate the bounties which we have been granted
and one of the greatest bounties is that Allah (SWT), the Most
Merciful, the Most Compassionate has granted us life after we were not
existing as Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur’an : Has there not been
one moment in time when he was not existing (Surah al-Insan : verse
1).

Such people need to be looked after with more sympathy and should be
morally and medically supported. They should be advised to remember
the source of peace of mind and keep on remembering Allah (SWT). That
will make them feel the taste of life and enjoy it and thank the
Creator Allah (SWT)

Wassalam.

Life . Punishment . Dunya

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 5 years ago

It sounds like this person is going through a tough time.

Life has easy and difficult times, sometimes very difficult times. It is good to have faith that there is light at the end of the tunnel and to contemplate on the verses of the Qur'an about Allah's mercy. Nothing stays the same forever and things often change in ways we could never imagine. Until then, however, it is sometimes necessary to walk in the darkness until reaching the light. The good thing about darkness, however, is sometimes it makes the light clearer.

Existence is not a choice, since a person who dies continues to exist. However, it is good to have faith that Allah has a plan and does not create anything in vain; just because we do not understand why we, individually, were created does not mean that we do not have our own specific reason for being.

Some might argue that Qur'an 7:172 which speaks of human beings testifying to the existence and lordship of Allah (in the realm of pre-existence, or in some other way) implies that we gave a sort of agreement to existing, even if we do not remember it now. Some might also argue that Qur'an 33:72 implies a sort of willingness to exist and accept the risks/consequences of free will, even if we currently do not want it - God knows best.

If this person is also dealing with depression or a psychological condition (either as a condition by itself or as a response to challenging circumstances), they could also look into psychological/psychiatric interventions and see if they are useful and appropriate at the moment to help get more zest for life.

If it is more of a spiritual or existential crisis (and all of the above can go hand in hand), more study and reflection of the Qur'an and theology and the big questions of life may help. In the end, while Muslims, like others, offer answers to questions such as "why do we exist?", it is one of those big questions that people have pondered for millenia, and although religions can provide answers, I think it is also something people often need to find answers for inside themselves.

Life . Punishment . Dunya

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It is God who decides who exists and that is not the choice of an individual. What is in their choice is what they do with the life they are given, and not wanting life, reward or punishment is not something that absolves them from that responsibility.

May you always be successful

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God (Allah) . Dunya . Predestination

If Allah has sent us to the world to live without asking our permission, isn't He forcing us to live our lives in roles that we might not want to?

Our existence itself is a great bounty from Allah who created us, out of His Mercy and Grace on us. He created us after we were nothing ( Has here not been over man a time, when he was not a thing worth mentioning?) (Sura 76, Verse 1).

He provided us not only with life but also with all what require to live a decent life e.g. He gifted us with the intellect and reason and ability to listen, see, and distinguish good from bad. He gifted us will all sense which make us enjoy our life and be away from danger. He showed us the best way to live our life with harmony and peace between ourselves and our desires and wishes, and between ourselves and our Creator, and between ourselves and the Universe.

What ever bounty we have is from Him, and what ever suffering we may have is from ourselves.(Whatever good reaches you is from Allah, and whatever bad comes to ou is from yourself). (Sura 4, Verse 79).

He guided us to live in the best way away from evil and sinful desires. Those who follow the way of Allah (SWT) enjoy life in the best way as that achieve the Peace of Mind and Tranquility which is lost in he life of millions who are away from Allah.

We are unable to thank Him enough but when we try to thank Allah for His countless bounties, we feel the taste of life and feel more peace in our hearts.

Wassalam.